Switch



Sept. 29, 1936. M w MORRIS 2,056,015

SWITCH Filed July 15, 1935 Jn 019722 05 Mara 07'? Zzfjfa/fzs rz/ I a Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES SWITCH Marion W. Morris, Logansport, Ind., assignor to.

R- B-M Manufacturing Company, Logansport, Ind.,'a. corporation of Indiana 1 Application July 15, 1933; Serial No. 680,561 20mm. (01. 173-346) This invention relates to switches, and more particularly to "switchesadapted for use in conth'o'ughit is not to be limited-to this specificuse;

It is desirable in switche'sjo'f this type, which are subje'cte'd to shock and'vibration, that a snap mechanism be provided which Will positively hold the switch in predetermined position unless it is manually actuated; but the cost of producing such a sw' itch has heretofore been such that it is not capable of manufacture on an economical ba'SiS.

Fufther, it isneceSSary, especially in switches adapted for us'e'ihconnectioh with domelights arm the likethat the Switch structure be made as compactly as possible, with a minimum number of parts, in order that it occupy as small a space as possible within the vehicle.-

It is an object of the present invention to produce a switch of the type described having a. simplified Construction which will provide a snap ac tionfor inaintaining the switch in predetermined position uhle'ss' manually actuated, and using a minimum number of parts, the switch being capable of assembly within a compact structure.

A further object of the invention is to utilize the means for securin'g'the terminal menibers or lugs of the switch unit in position, as the switch contacts, thereby achieving a simplified and economical construction. 'In the present invention, ease and accuracy of operation is assured by forming the snap actuating mechanism directly in the switching meinber, so that manual actuation of the switch operates the mechanism directly, thus reducing the number of parts necessary for producing this" action, and providing for direct controlof the snapactuating'ihechanism.

The switch of my invention has an additional advantage in that-it can be formed as a part ofthe dome light structure, when used in this connection, or as a separate switch device, without in any way modifying its simplicity of operation and design. In connection with this feature, I have provided a. structure which, when formed as a part of the dome light "structure, requires only one switch ontact in order to effect operation or the light.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the follow i-ng'detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, will dis} close to those skilled in" the art" the particular constructidn and operation of my invention.

In' the drawing Figurel is a plan View of a dorne light struc'-' ture With the SWith embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the switch structure as embodied in Figure 1; I w Figure 3 is a sectional view ta en substantially on th'e'li'ne 8'8 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional'v'iew taken suhst'antially on the line 99 of Figure '3; and

"Figfllre 5 is a front elevaiti dhal View Of the switch structure shown in Figure 2. g 4

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, I have illustrated thecejpplicatieh of the switch of "the present inventioh to adonie light structure, wherein the switch is dir'eetly gem hddied in the. dome light housing, and roini's a part thereof.

The name light structure is indicated generally in Figure 1 by the reference numeral commie; ing a plurality of concentric fiangeper ion formed of metal or the like. "Dispds'd upon an inner norrnally extending flanged portion lof the housing I pro'vide a'sock'et structure, indicated at 3|, which is riveted to the 'fienge at 32, and which has an upstanding portion projecting to ward the centralp'art "of the housing and pro-'- vided with alainp-receiving portion indicatedat 34 for receiving the base 35 "of a'srnall filament lamp 36. The b'as 3 5 of the lampl'is adapted to extend through an opening inth'e socket 3i, and carries a projecting contact phr'ti'o'n 31 pas ing through an opening 38 formed of the housing. The two contacts of the filament or the lamp 36 are therefore engagedby the up} standing portion 34 of the socket member 3|, and by conta t with the inner tip 31 at the base bbr tion 35 of the lamp. p w

The switch'of the res nt invention; when 51h, bodied in this construetion', 'cor'n'prise's a generally rectangularly shaped housing indicated at 40, which i's'proyided'with two curvedfiange ppi tiens 4|, having suitable openings 42 therein adapted to receive the rivets 32 whichjse cure the socket member 3| in position with respect tothe flange. rivet engagement provides a switch which is structurally designed so as to prevent interference with radio circuits which may be installed in the vehicle in which theswitch is mounted. It has been found. that solder joints for the same purpose are undesirable in that they produce noises in the operation of such a radio system.

The switch is disposed beneath the fiangepor- I tion 30' of the housing, and has a. switch actuating rod or member 44' adapted to project through an opening or slot '45 formed in the surface of the flange member. Ih'e1rod 44 is held in ositien within the Housing by means or opposed pairs of struck-out bearing portions-indicatedat l6 and 41 which are adapted to form bearing supports for a pin 48 upon which the switch member 44 is mounted. This provides rocking action about the pin 48 for the member 44, the inner end of the member 44 projecting within the housing 40.

The housing 40 is provided with a plurality of upstanding ears or lug members 50 which are adapted to engage in suitably notched portions of an insulating member 5| secured over the top of the housing. The lugs 50 are bent over into engagement with the upper surface of the member 5|, and serve to secure the member 5| in fixed position upon the housing 40, thus enclosing the housing and switch mechanism.

Mounted upon the member 5| are a pair of terminal lug members indicated at 52 and 53. The lug member 52 is adapted to be secured to the insulating member 5| bymeans of a rivet.

54, which extends through the member, and has its upper end spun over, as shown at 55, for securing the lug in position. The lug 52 is also provided with a downwardly punched portion indicated at 56, which serves to align the lug with respect to the member 5|, so that it cannot be moved out of position.

A suitable insulating member 51 is interposed between the member 5| and the lug 52. The rivet 54 has an inner headed portion 58, which is adapted to be secured over a depending contact member indicated at 59, which is interposed between the head 58 and the inner surface of the member 5|.

The contact member 59 is provided with an upwardly extending tongue portion 60 which is adapted to align the member 59 in position and prevent its rotation with respect to the rivet 54, The downwardly depending portion of the member 59 is adapted to contact the inner extending contact 31 of the filament bulb 36, to provide the second contact for the bulb. If desired, the member 59 may be curved, or may be made of spring metal in order to effect positive resilient engagement with the lamp contact at all times.

The lug 52 extends downwardly over the side of the housing 40, and is provided with a threaded coupling member 6| for securing a terminal lead to the lug. The member 6| is adapted to thread into the lug 52, and its inner extending end passes through an opening 62 formed in the housing 40.

Considering now the lug 53, this lug extends over the upper surface of the member 5|, being held in aligned position with respect thereto by means of the downwardly punched portion 64, which engages in a suitable opening formed in the member 5|. The lug 53 is adapted to be bent over the edge of the member 5| at the rear thereof, and extends downwardly a sufficient distance to receive a threaded coupling member 65 for securing a terminal lead thereto. The coupling member 65 extends through an opening 66 formed in the housing 40, in the same manner as described in connection with the coupling member 6 This disposition of the coupling members effects a considerable saving of space. A suitable insulating member, preferably of fiber or other insulating material, is interposed between the lug 53, and the members 5| and 40. This insulating member is indicated at 61. The lug 53 is held in position by means of the rivet 68, in the same manner as described in connection with the rivet member 54, but the inner end of the rivet 68 is adapted to have a substantially dished inner surface, as indicated at 10, for providing a'contact surface for the switch contact plunger head 1|.

Considering now in detail the switch actuating mechanism mounted at the inner end of the switch actuating member 44, the inner end of this member is recessed as indicated at 12 in Figure 3. Disposed over the recessed end of the member 44 is a plunger member 13, having the substantially hemispherical contact portion adapted to engage the substantially spherical recess 70 formed in the rivet 68. The plunger I3 is adapted to have sliding axial movement with respect to the member 45. A spring member 74 disposed within the recess 12, and hearing at one end against the plunger and at the other end against the member 44, serves to force the plunger 13 outwardly of the member 44.

In the operation of the switch, the member 44 is rocked about the pivot 48, and serves to engage the headed end of the plunger 13 either in the recess 10, in order to complete a circuit through the bulb 36, or inv the semi-spherical recess 15 formed in the insulating member 5|, in which position the plunger H is out of contact with the electrical circuit, thus disconnecting the bulb 36. Because of the spring disposed within the member 44, which normally urges the plunger outwardly, a snap action is effected, which serves to maintain the member 44 either in positive engaged position, or in disengaged position, regardless of any shocks or vibration to which the instrument may be subjected. This also provides a positive snap action for preventing the switch from remaining in any intermediate position with respect to the contact 10 or the recess 15.

It will be noted that, although two leads are brought to the switch member, nevertheless only one contact is engaged or disengaged in order to effect actuation of the light. The lead from the terminal lug 52, which is secured to the coupling 5|, conducts the current through the lug 52 to the depending contact member 59, which engages the lower tip portion of the bulb. Current from this point travels through the filament 16 of the bulb and through the outer surface 35 of the base thereof to the upstanding portion 34 of the socket member 3|, and thence through the socket member 3| and the rivets 32 to the flanges 4| of the housing 40. From the housing 40, the current is conducted through the pin 48 and the actuating member 44 to the plunger 13 and to the contact portion 1| thereof. The other terminal lead is connected, through the coupling member 65 and the lug 53, to the rivet 68, which serves the dual purpose of securing the lug in position and of serving as the switch contact. It is thus apparent that, upon actuation of the member 44 to bring the plunger head into contact with the surface 10, a current will be established through the filament 16 of the lamp, which will serve to light the lamp. Also, disengagement of the head 1| from the surface 10 will result in breaking of the circuit, which will result in extinguishment of the lamp. Only one switch contact need be used, therefore, and this switch contact also serves to hold the terminal lug in position.

The combination of the use of a rivet as a contact member, the rivet also being used for holding a terminal lug in position, together with the use of a plunger reciprocable with respect to the switch actuating member, and which is springpressed in such manner that the switch is positively held in either actuated or unactuated position, is believed to be broadly new. The combination, embodied in a switch structure of the type described, produces a switch which is small in size, compact, has relatively few parts, thereby reducing the possibility of any of the parts becoming loose due to vibration or jarring of the switch structure, and which can be economically and quickly manufactured and assembled into position.

I do not intend to be limited to the specific details of construction shown in the preferred embodiment of my invention, but only in so far as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a switch housing of generally rectangular shape having an open top and an open end, a switch lever pivoted in the bottom wall of said housing for transverse swinging movement therein, an insulating closure plate over the top of said housing, a contact carried by said plate and projecting into said housing said contact being disposed in the path of movement of said lever, and a terminal lug secured by said contact to the outer surface of said plate and extending downwardly along a side wall of said housing, said lug having a terminal screw insulated from and projecting inwardly through an enlarged opening in the wall of said housing.

2. In combination, a box-like switch housing having two contiguous open sides, a switch lever pivoted intermediate its ends on a wall of said housing opposite one open side and swinging in a plane parallel to the other open side, a telescoping contact carried on the end of said lever within said housing, an insulating closure plate disposed over said one open side and carrying a contact disposed in the path of movement of said switch lever contact, and a terminal lug carried by said contact on the external surface of said plate and having an end portion lying parallel to and insulated from the side walls of said housing.

MARION W. MORRIS. 

